Vest including a retractor pocket and retractor therein; and method of manufacturing vest

ABSTRACT

A fishing vest including a retractor pocket which is inverted so that it opens downwardly when the vest is worn is provided by the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the fishing vest includes two retractor pockets. A first retractor pocket is provided between the upper left breast pocket and the neckline, and a second retractor pocket is provided between the upper right breast pocket and the neckline. Each retractor pocket includes a retractor provided within the interior thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vest including a retractor pocket,and to a method for manufacturing a vest including a retractor pocket.More particularly, the invention relates to a fishing vest provided witha retractor pocket which is inverted so that it opens downwardly whenthe vest is worn, and includes a retractor provided therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fishing vests have been used by fishermen for many years. Generally,fishing vests include pockets for storing fishing accessories whilefishing. Exemplary pieces of equipment often used by fishermen include,for example, flies, lures, fishing line, insect repellent, matches,nippers, calipers, jackets, gloves, and the like. A fishing vest is aconvenient article of clothing which allows fishermen to carry suchequipment with them and use it when needed. Several United StatesPatents which describe fishing vests include U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,341 toLapham, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,707 to Parker et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,014,359 to Hanson, U.S. Pat. No. to 2,717,391 to Bracken, and U.S.Pat. No. 5,526,535 to Dobrzenski. Several catalogs showing commerciallyavailable fishing vests are available from Simms® Fishing Products, Inc.of Bozeman. Mont., and L. L. Bean® of Freeport, Me. A common feature ofthe fishing vests described in these publications is that they includeseveral pockets for holding fishing accessories.

Certain types of fishing equipment are used frequently by fishermen, andit is desirable to have such equipment easily assessable when their useis required. Exemplary types of frequently used equipment include ahemostat, a clipper, fly dressing, and the like. Rather than storingthis type of equipment in pockets, it has been found to be advantageousto attach it to fishing vests using a retractor. In addition, certaintypes of equipment are easily dropped. When wading in a river, this mayresult in loss of the equipment. Accordingly, many fishermen useretractors to attach such equipment to a fishing vest to prevent loss.Many forms of retractors are commercially available. Commerciallyavailable retractors can be obtained from Simms® Fishing Products, Inc.These retractors are generally of the type having a spring providedwithin a rigid housing and with a clip on one end of the spring andwhich can be pulled out from inside the housing. The housing isattachable to a fishing vest. Fishing equipment can then be attached tothe clip. Another style of commercially available retractor is soldunder the name Zinge.®

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vest for holding fishing accessories is provided by the presentinvention. The vest includes a shell structure having a neckline, a leftarm hole, a right arm hole, and a bottom edge. The shell is constructedand arranged to fit over a human chest. The vest includes a plurality ofpockets for storing fishing accessories attached to the shell structure.At least one of the plurality of pockets is a retractor pocket providedwith an interior region and an opening facing downwardly when the vestis worn by a wearer in an upright standing position. A retractor issecured within the interior of the retractor pocket. Preferably, theretractor is a spring-type retractor formed from a polyurethanematerial.

A method for manufacturing a vest including a retractor pocket isprovided by the present invention. The method includes a step ofproviding a shell structure having a neckline, a left arm hole, a rightarm hole, and a bottom edge, and wherein the shell structure isconstructed and arranged to fit over a human chest. The method includesa step of providing a sheath over a portion of the shell structure toprovide a pocket which has an opening facing downwardly when the vest isworn by a wearer in an upright standing position. The sheath is securedto the shell, preferably by stitching. The method additionally includesa step of providing a retractor within an interior region of theretractor pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a brief description of the drawings showing variousfeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fishing vest according to the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cut away view of the fishing vest of FIG. 1 showing theattachment of the left breast retractor pocket;

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away view of the retractor pocket shown in FIG.1 where the retractor is fastened by an alternative arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the sheath of the retractor pocket shownin FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the retractor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom view of the left breast retractor pocketshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of the left breast retractor pocket shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of the left breast retractor pocketshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of a fishing vest having a retractorpocket according to the principle of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a fishing vest according to the principles of thepresent invention is depicted at reference numeral 10. A fishing vest isgenerally an article of clothing which when worn provides areas and/orpockets for storing accessories near the chest of the wearer. Thefishing vest 10 includes a shell 12 which generally forms the exteriorbody of the vest, and accessory pockets 14 for holding fishing-relatedaccessories. The fishing vest 10 generally fits around the chest of awearer. That is, part of the vest extends over the shoulders and aroundthe neck, and part of the vest extends around the back of a wearer andacross the chest. The accessory pockets 14 include the upper pockets 16,the bottom pockets 18, and the retractor pockets 20. The accessorypockets 14 are sewn to the shell 12. The retractor pockets 20 areprovided between the upper pockets 16 and the neckline 22. It should beappreciated that fishing vest 10 looks symmetrical with respect to thefront of the vest. While symmetry is not a requirement of the invention,the following description of the invention is provided on the basis thatthe left breast retractor pocket and the right breast retractor pocketare manufactured in the same way from the same materials.

The fishing vest 10 of FIG. 1 additionally includes a buckle 24 forholding the left breast side 26 and the right breast side 28 of the vest10 together around the chest of the wearer. Tabs 30 are provided on thepocket flaps 32 in order to allow easy opening of the pockets to accessthe interior thereof. The collar 34 is provided around the neck line 22,and a binding 35 finishes the edge along the arm holes 36, the bottomedge 37, and the front center edge 38. The inner lining 39 is shown asthe interior surface of the vest. Although not shown, the fishing vestadditionally includes rear pockets provided on the back side of thevest.

The retractor pockets 20 are provided in an inverted position. Thismeans that the pocket opening 42 faces or opens downwardly when the vestis worn by a person standing in an upright position. In other words, thepocket is provided in a configuration which would cause items placedloosely therein to fall out under the force of gravity when the vest isworn by a person standing in an upright position. According to thepresent invention, items are attached inside the retractor pockets 20 sothey do not fall out when the vest is worn by a person standing in anupright position. The retractor pockets 20 are generally provided withan upside down cup-like appearance.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-8, the construction of the leftbreast retractor pocket 20 is shown in detail. It should be understoodthat the right breast retractor pocket is preferably formed in the sameway. The retractor pocket 20 is formed from a sheath or cover 44 whichis attached to the shell 12 to form an interior area 46 having anopening 42 which faces or opens downwardly when the fishing vest is wornby a person in a person in an upright position. Thus, items providedwithin the inverted retractor pockets 20 would normally fall out of thepockets unless they were anchored inside of the inverted retractorpockets. The sheath 44 is preferably provided as a combination of shellmaterial 48 and interfacing 49 and provided in the pattern shown in FIG.2. Furthermore, the bottom edge 50 of the sheath 44 is hemmed to providea finished appearance. The sheath 44 is laid over the shell 12 at theappropriate location and provided with an amount of ease sufficient toprovide the cup-like appearance shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. That is, thebottom edge 50 is not laid flat against the shell 12 but is providedwith excess length so that a pocket is formed. The exterior edge 53 ofthe sheath 44 is stay-stitched to the shell 12 along stitch line 54. Theupper pocket 16 is then sewn to the shell along stitch line 56. Theinterior edge 55 of the sheath 44 is attached to the shell 12 by thestitch line 58 provided by the binding 35.

It should be appreciated that various designs of fishing vests can beprovided. For example, certain designs may have pockets located atdifferent positions or provided with different shapes. An exemplaryalternative design is provided by FIG. 9 where a vest 100 is shownhaving accessory pockets 102 and retractor pockets 104. It should beappreciated that while the preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed in relation to the use of a retractor pocket on a fishingvest, it should be appreciated that the retractor pocket can be appliedto various other articles of clothing. For example, the inverted pocketof the invention can be provided on shirts, coats, hunting or utilityvests, day packs, shorts, pants, and the like.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the retractor pockets areprovided on the front portion of the vest. The reason for this is thatthey are much more accessible to a fisherman when they are provided atthis location compared with, for example, being provided on the backsideof the vest. Prior to this invention, the space provided between theupper pocket 16 and the neckline 22 has been left relatively unused.Thus, the present invention places the retractor pockets 20 at thelocation shown in FIG. 1 in order to take advantage of generally unusedspace.

Again referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, provided within the retractor pockets20 are retractors 60 and 62. Retractor 60 is shown in the retracted orrelaxed position, and retractor 62 is shown in the extended position.Both retractors 60 and 62 are spring type retractors based upon thedesign presently available from Simms® Fishing Products, Inc. of BozemanMont. in the Simms® Fishing Products 1977 catalog. The retractors 60 and62 have been modified from the commercially available retractors toexclude the rigid housing because it is not needed. It should beappreciated, however, that the housing could be incorporated into thepresent invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, the retractor 60 and 62 include a spring 64 which isexpandable and biases to a retracted position. The spring 64 has a firstend 66 and a second end 68. The first end 66 is stitched under the staystitch line 54 and the pocket stitch line 56. An alternative preferredmethod for attaching the retractor 62 is shown in FIG. 3. The first end66 is heat sealed to provide a loop 69 through which a ribbon 70 isprovided. The ribbon 70 is then sewn to the vest by stay stitch line 54and pocket stitch line 56. Attaching the retractor using a ribbon ispreferred because it avoids potential problems created by stitching overthe spring, and avoids the possibility that the spring might slide outof the stitching during later use of the vest. The ribbon can beprovided for attachment of the retractor to the fishing vest. The ribbonends are tacked in place over a drill hole on the front of the vest,located under the center front top portion of the chest pockets. Adrawback to stitching the retractor directly to the vest is that theremay be a risk in puncturing the retractor, or that the retractor mayslip out of the stitch in some time during the useful life of the vest.

In a preferred embodiment, the ribbon 70 is secured three times. Thatis, by tacking the ribbon 70, by attachment of the sheath 44, and byattaching the upper pockets 16. It is believed that this amount ofstitching should be sufficient to keep the retractor secured in place.It should be understood, however, that retractor can be held in place byother methods, such as, using adhesives or a different type ofmechanical fastener.

The retractors 60 and 62 are provided with a clip 72 attached to thesecond end 68. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, the second end 68includes a heat sealed loop 74, and the clip 72 fastens to the heatsealed loop 74. In the case, where the spring is prepared from apolyurethane material, the ends of the spring can be melted so that theyfuse to a preceding coil on the spring. This allows the formation of aloop which provides for the attachment of the clip and the ribbon. Theclip can then be utilized to hold various accessories such as nippersand clippers.

An advantage of the inverted retractor pockets is that the sheath 44holds the retractor and accessory attached thereto closer to the chestof the wearer. This is particularly important when the wearer bendsover. Prior retractor tend to simply fall away from the wearer's chestwhen the wearer bends over. This dangling of retractor and accessoryaway from the wearer's chest creates problems and can cause frustrationwhen they become entangled with, for example, a fishing line. Theretractor pocket of the present invention keeps the retractor andaccessory held closely to the body in order to avoid this problem.

In a preferred embodiment of the fishing vest of the present invention,the shell and sheath are manufactured from Supplex® nylon which isavailable from Dupont, and provided with a Teflon® finish to providewater repellency. The interfacing is preferably a conventional supportor stiffening material. It should be understood that any of variouscommonly known and used materials can be utilized in the presentinvention. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment to the invention thepockets on the front of the vest are tilted at an angle so that thewearer can easily see inside the pockets when they are opened. In orderto provide a low profile for the pockets, it is preferred that thepockets are pleated so that they tend to lay flat against the shell.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect tocertain preferred embodiments, certain variations and modifications mayoccur to those skilled in the art, and such variations and modificationsshould be considered within the scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A vest for holding fishing accessories, said vestcomprising: (a) a shell structure having a neckline, a left arm hole, aright arm hole, and a bottom edge, the shell structure being consideredand arranged to fit over a human chest; (b) a plurality of pockets forstoring fishing accessories attached to said shell structure, wherein atleast one of said plurality of pockets is a retractor pocket providedwith an interior region and an opening facing downwardly when the vestis worn by a wearer in an upright standing position; and (c) a retractorsecured within the interior region of said retractor pocket.
 2. A vestaccording to claim 1, wherein said retractor includes a spring formedfrom a polyurethane material.
 3. A vest according to claim 1, comprisingat least two retractor pockets for storing fishing accessories attachedto said shell structure, wherein the at least two retractor pockets areprovided with an interior region and an opening facing downwardly whenthe vest is worn by a wearer in an upright standing position.
 4. A vestaccording to claim 3, wherein at least two retractor pockets are locatedon a front portion of the vest.
 5. A vest according to claim 4, whereinat least two retractor pockets are provided adjacent the neckline.
 6. Amethod for manufacturing a vest including a retractor pocket, saidmethod comprising: (a) providing a shell structure having a neckline, aleft arm hole, a right arm hole and a bottom edge, the shell structurebeing constructed and arranged to fit over a human chest; (b) providinga sheath over a portion of the shell structure to provide a pocket,wherein the pocket includes an opening which faces downwardly when thevest is worn by a wearer in an upright standing position; and (c)securing that sheath to the shell.
 7. A method for manufacturing a vestincluding a retractor pocket according to claim 6, wherein the methodincludes a step of: (a) providing a retractor within an interior regionof the retractor pocket.
 8. A method for manufacturing a vest includinga retractor pocket according to claim 7, wherein the retractor includesa spring.
 9. A method for manufacturing a vest including a retractorpocket according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing a retractorwithin an interior region of the retractor pocket includes stitching theretractor to the shell.
 10. A method for manufacturing a vest includinga retractor pocket according to claim
 1. Further comprising placing thesheath adjacent the neckline.
 11. An article of clothing for holdingfishing accessories, said article of clothing comprising: (a) a shellstructure having a neckline, a left arm hole, a right arm hole, and abottom edge, the shell structure being constructed and arranged to fitover a human chest; (b) a plurality of pockets for storing fishingaccessories attached to said shell structure, wherein at least one ofsaid plurality of pockets is a retractor pocket provided with aninterior region and an opening facing downwardly when the article ofclothing is worn by a wearer in an upright standing position; and (c) aretractor secured within the interior region of said retractor pocket.12. An article of clothing according to claim 11, wherein said retractorincludes a spring for biasing said retractor to a retracted position.13. An article of clothing according to claim 2, wherein the springcomprises a polyurethane material.
 14. A article of clothing accordingto claim 11, comprising at least two retractor pockets for storingfishing accessories attached to said shell structure, wherein the atleast two retractor pockets are provided with an interior region and anopening facing downwardly when the article of clothing is worn by awearer in an upright standing position.
 15. An article of clothingaccording to claim 14, wherein the at least two retractor pockets arelocated on a front portion of the article of clothing.
 16. An article ofclothing according to claim 15, wherein the at least two retractorpockets are provided adjacent the neckline.
 17. An article of clothingaccording to claim 11, wherein said article of clothing is a shirt. 18.An article of clothing according to claim 11, wherein said article ofclothing is a coat.
 19. An article of clothing for holding fishingaccessories, said article of clothing comprising: (a) a shell structure;(b) a plurality of pockets for storing fishing accessories attached tosaid shell structure, wherein at least one of said plurality of pocketsis a retractor pocket provided with an interior region and an openingfacing downwardly when the article of clothing is worn by a wearer in anupright standing position; and (c) a retractor secured within theinterior region of said retractor pocket.
 20. An article of clothingaccording to claim 19, wherein said retractor comprises a spring and aclip, the spring for biasing said retractor to a retracted position. 21.An article of clothing according to claim 20, wherein the springcomprises a polyurethane material.
 22. An article of clothing accordingto claim 19, comprising at least two retractor pockets for storingfishing accessories attached to said shell structure, wherein the atleast two retractor pockets are provided with an interior region and anopening facing downwardly when the article of clothing is worn by awearer in an upright standing position.
 23. An article of clothingaccording to claim 19, wherein said article of clothing is a daypack.24. An article of clothing according to claim 19, wherein said articleof clothing is a pair of pants.
 25. An article of clothing for holdingfishing accessories, said article of clothing comprising: (a) a shellstructure having a neckline, a left arm hole, a right arm hole, and abottom edge, the shell structure being constructed and arranged to fitover a human chest; (b) a plurality of pockets for storing fishingaccessories attached to said shell structure; (c) a sheath attached tosaid shell structure forming an interior region having at least oneopening; and (d) a retractor secured within the interior region andextending downwardly through the at least one opening when the articleof clothing is worn by a wearer in an upright position.
 26. An articleof clothing according to claim 25, wherein the interior region opensdownwardly when the article of clothing is worn by a person in anupright position.
 27. An article of clothing according to claim 25,wherein said sheath is sewn to the shell structure.
 28. An article ofclothing according to claim 25, wherein said retractor comprises aspring for biasing said retractor to a retracted position, the springbeing sewn to the shell structure within the interior region.
 29. Anarticle of clothing according to claim 28, wherein the spring comprisesa polyurethane material.
 30. An article of clothing according to claim25, wherein said article of clothing is a shirt.
 31. An article ofclothing according to claim 25, wherein said article of clothing is acoat.